ON DECK

Opponent--Kansas City Royals, two games.

* Site--Anaheim Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West.

* Radio--KTZN (710).

* Records--Angels 28-25, Royals 24-28.

* Record vs. Royals--1-1.

Tonight’s Game

ANGELS’ DENNIS SPRINGER (3-1, 5.36 ERA) vs. ROYALS’ TIM BELCHER (5-6, 3.50)

* UPDATE: Royal ace Kevin Appier, who has a 10-4 record against the Angels, has tried and failed five times to notch victory No. 100, but the Angels catch a break because the right-hander is not scheduled to pitch in Anaheim this week. The last three times Appier pitched, Kansas City lost by scores of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1. Starting pitching has been a Royal strength, the rotation combining for a 3.70 earned-run average. But a not-so-Royal bullpen has blown eight of 17 save opportunities and has a 6.62 ERA. Kansas City had lost 11 of 14 games before Sunday’s 6-2 victory over Texas. Former Angel Chili Davis, hitting .277 with six homers and 23 RBIs, recently replaced Jeff King as Kansas City’s cleanup batter.

* Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.--Allen Watson (3-3, 5.58) vs. Glendon Rusch (3-2, 4.83).

Langston Not Expecting Miracle

Mark Langston has recovered so quickly from so many injuries in the last two years, you half expect the Angel left-hander to be throwing a simulated game today, a week after elbow surgery.

But even though the swelling has subsided and he is regaining mobility in his arm, Langston isn’t predicting a miracle. He is expected to be out five to seven weeks.

“I’ve always thought I could come back earlier,” he said. “But they want to make sure everything is healed up before I start working it hard.”

Langston has been cleared to begin underwater therapy today, the first step toward regaining arm strength. If all goes well, he could begin throwing in a few weeks, work his way up to a minor league rehabilitation start or two and join the Angel rotation in mid-July.

Langston, who turns 37 in August, has been on the disabled list four times in the last two years.

*

Matt Perisho, the 21-year-old left-hander recalled from double-A Midland to replace Langston, acknowledged after Sunday’s 5-4 loss to Minnesota that he’s feeling stressed about his jump to the big leagues.

“It’s not a burden, but it’s definitely not easy when you’re replacing a guy like Mark, who has been a workhorse for a lot of years,” said Perisho, who has a loss and a no-decision in two starts. “I’ve got to do better than this.”

*

Second baseman Luis Alicea, sidelined the last three games because of a tight right hamstring, is expected to return tonight. . . . Eddie Murray was unavailable to hit Sunday because of a sore wrist and is listed as day to day. . . . Of the Angels’ 25 losses this season, 15 have been by two runs or fewer. . . . Through Saturday’s game, the Angels were hitting an impressive .285 with runners in scoring position, led by Darin Erstad (.381), Tim Salmon (.339) and Garret Anderson (.333). . . . The Angels have struck out 285 times this season, fewest in the American League, and they have grounded into only 34 double plays, also a league low.